Located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is the place to go for solitude. The park is an island of roadless backcountry reachable only by boat or seaplane – making it the least visited national park in the lower 48 states. Photographer Carl TerHaar captured this moonrise from Pickerel Cove, one of the islands’ campgrounds that consists of a narrow ridge accessible by small boat. Full moon photo courtesy of Carl TerHaar.

Tulum is on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It was built on 12m-high cliffs.

During the Postclassic Period [950-1200], Tulum was a major port for
the city of Cobá, further inland. It had walls (unlike most Mayan
cities) – 6m thick in some places, and 4.5-6.0m tall. It has five
narrow openings, which can fit one person at a time. Tulum was on
trade routes both on land and sea, especially for obsidian.

Tulum was ruled over by Mayapan. It seems to have been an important
site for the worship of the Diving/Descending god. Their population
was 1,000-1,600.

The city survived for about 70 years after the Spanish arrived, which
was unusual. By the end of the 1500’s, it had been abandoned
completely.

The Temple of the Frescoes was an observatory for tracking the sun’s
movements. It has a lower gallery, and a smaller 2nd-storey gallery.
Its façade has depictions of the Mayan diving-god.

Temple of the Frescoes.

The Temple of the Diving God is smaller, and in the central part of
the site. It is called that because the diving-god is depicted in
stucco on the western wall.

Temple of the Diving God.

El Castillo is a 7.5m-tall pyramid. It was built in stages, on an
already-existing building. There is a small shrine, which would have
been used as a beacon for incoming trade canoes. It lines up exactly
with a break in the barrier reef, through which the canoes would
enter a cove and landing beach.

Anticipation. Men of the 1st Australian Division Signal Company about to land at Anzac Cove at 6 a.m. Their faces reveal a mixture of excitement and tension as, shells bursting around them, they experience their baptism of fire.

Photo & Caption featured in Gallipoli: The Fatal Shore by Harvey Broadbent.

My wlw ocs from forever ago are a chubby poc mermaid who lives in a cove and a trans girl who grew wings and got chased out of her home in Ireland and she crash landed in the cove and she slowly falls in love with the mermaid despite a hilarious language barrier and the mermaid surprised her one day by building a raft for her so they could spend more time in deeper water

“Sorry, I was just out getting my
primal needs met,” Ruffnut snickered.

The gang curled their lips with disgust
in unison.

“Ruffnut, it’s the middle of the day!
Aren’t you worried about getting caught?” Astrid asked.

“Technically, it’s still morning,”
Tuffnut interrupted.

Astrid glared at him before turning
back to Ruffnut, “Are you not at all worried about your
reputation?”

“This IS my reputation. Unlike you, I
never bothered trying to put up any appearances.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”
Astrid huffed.

“Look at you, all high and mighty in
your spiked skirt and kransen, acting all virginal, talking about my
reputation, when the whole village knows you and Hiccup fly off to
the gods know where to do gods know what whenever you feel like it.”

Hiccup stepped towards the two woman.
Without even looking at Astrid, he instinctively put his arm in front
of her to prevent her from pummeling the other blond.

“I assure you, Astrid and I have
never done anything that would bring her reputation into question.”

The rest of the dragon riders threw
their head’s back in laughter.

“What’s that smell? Anyone? Oh, it’s
bull sh…Owe!” Snotlout yelped as Astrid gave him a hard knock to
the face.

“I am afraid, whether you think that
to be true or not, there has been talk among the town and perception
is often more powerful than reality.” Fishlegs twittered nervously.

“I am pretty sure Not So Silent Sven
has a lottery set up where you can place your bet when Berk will get
your swords over belly wedding,” Ruffnut gestured over her own flat
stomach.

“What?!?” Hiccup and Astrid
sputtered together.

“It’s true,” Fishlegs responded,
“Not that I placed any bets.”

“My guess date already passed,”
Snotlout lamented, “I would not have picked this spring if I would
have known you were actually keeping it in your pants. What’s wrong
with you, Hiccup? If I had a gorgeous girl like Astrid, I’d take her
to my bed every chance I got. Astrid, if Hiccup is unable,”
Snotlout pointed his finger up in the air and then let it dangle
limply, “ to, you know, I would be more than happy to provide you
some much needed sexual relief.”

“Ugh!” Astrid grabbed Hiccup by the
strap on his leather flight tunic, “Practice is canceled for today.
Hiccup and I have to, have to, talk.”

“Where are we going?” Hiccup asked
when they were outside the academy ring.

“Just grab Toothless and follow me.”

* * *

When Toothless and Stormfly landed in
the cove, their riders dismounted.

“Look, Astrid, I’m sor-”

Astrid planted a long hard kiss on
Hiccup’s mouth before he could finish his apology.

When Astrid broke away, Hiccup ran his
hands up and down the leather strapping that graced her forearms.

“Ahh, well that was unexpected. Nice,
but unexpected. I didn’t figure you’d want any-”

“You’d be surprised what I may or may
not want.”

Hiccup thought Astrid’s eyes might bore
right through him.

“I, I, I might…be…surprised.”
Hiccup swallowed as he watched Astrid ran her hand down his chest and
over than under his tunic.

“I want you to make love to me,
Hiccup. If we are all ready found guilty of a crime, we might as well
get some enjoyment out of committing it.”

“Make love to you? Here? Now? Ahh, hmmm,” was
all he could muster as Astrid wrapped her hand around him.

Hiccup removed her hand from his pants
and pulled her close to kiss her passionately.

Astrid began to undo his buckles and
Hiccup hers. Freed from his tunic, he began to pull up hers but
stopped.

“Uhhhh,” Hiccup scrunched his nose up, with turmoil written all over his face, and placed his forehead against hers before stepping back, with his hands
still on her waist.

“Thor damn it. I can’t believe I am
saying this, but, no.”

'No? What do you mean, 'no’?”

“No, I will not be making love to you
today.” Hiccup braced himself for anticipated violence.

“Are you really rejecting me?”

“No, yes, maybe, no. Look Astrid, I
love you and I would love nothing more than to make love to you
everyday for the rest of our lives if that is what I thought you
wanted. But I don’t think this,” Hiccup motioned to the space
between them, “has anything to do with us and everything to do with
what Ruffnut and the gang said. I want our first time to be because
you really want to. Because you really want me, in the moment.”

“Maybe I’m a romantic guy?” Hiccup
pulled her into his chest and rested his check on her head.

“Maybe. You do actually love me then?”

“What? Of course I do. Was there ever
any doubt?”

“No, but it was the first time you
said it.”

“What? No. Really?”

“I think I’d remember.”

“Huh. Well, I do love you, Astrid, the
Fearless, Hofferson.”

“I’ve always perceived that to be
true, it’s just nice to hear it,” she kissed him sweetly then
squeezed his thin frame a little tighter before turning up to look at
his face, “You know, I thought you were going to propose to me
there for a second. To make up for not banging me.”

“What?”

“You know, all that talk amount
making love to me for the rest of our lives.”

“Oh, ugh, eh, well…” Hiccup
released her and ran his fingers nervously through his hair.

“Relax. I plan on taking you for a
test drive before I’d agree to that. And you all ready said there’d
be no love making today.”

Astrid closed Hiccup’s agape jaw with a
fore finger, bent over to pick up her should pads, and whistled for
Stormfly.

“I think I’ll head back to Berk
before people start questioning our where abouts. Coming?” Astrid
asked as she mounted the Deadly Nadder.

“I’ll catch up,” Hiccup replied. He
needed a moment to process what just happened.

“Sounds good,” Astrid said as she
prepared for take-off, “Oh, and Hiccup, I hope you know, I love you
too.”

In a quick beat of wings she was gone
and Hiccup was left, shirtless in the cove, smiling to himself.

I really have to do more of the prompts they sent me on ff.net because they are pretty cute. UwU

The two, along with their dragons, have just landed in the Cove. A quiet, secluded place ffrom all the hustle and bustle Berk was preparing for. It was only a few more days until Snoggletog, and the couple decided to take a breather in the same place their views of each other had changed.

Hiccup brought a blanket, thinking that the chilly weather might make his lover cold, and placed it on the spot beside him. Sitting down, he patted the same spot and beckoned her to sit, as well.

It was a few hours into the night, the moon and the stars were their only sources of light. Well, that and the fire their dragons had just started. Astrid sat beside her boyfriend, her hand on his shoulder.

“Mm, a blanket,” she said. “Came prepared?” She looked at him, a teasing smile on her lips.

“With you, I always have to,” he replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His hand was on the side of her head, pressing her lightly onto his shoulder.

They sat there, staring at the evening sky in silence. He hoped she didn’t notice that he was a little nervous that night. His hands were a bit shaky and his mind was clogging up with different scenarios of a certain screw up. That night, he was going to ask for her hand in marriage. Of course, he had asked her parents beforehand and gave them the needed gifts in exchange for their daughter’s hand, but he didn’t tell her that he did. He wanted it to be a surprise. He even asked her parents if they’d keep it quiet until he asked her. They happily obliged

It wasn’t all the nervousness that the butterflies in his stomach gave. There was still a possibility that she didn’t want to marry him. That thought alone made him shake in horror. What if he made a mistake? What if he just ruined their relationship?

Astrid felt him shaking. She also felt a drop of his sweat fall on her cheek. She wiped it off and looked at him, curiously and worriedly. “Babe, are you okay?”

He jumped. “Uh, what? You hate me?” She raised a brow. He faked a cough. “I mean, yes, m'lady?”

“Babe, you’re acting weird.” She paused. “Well, weirder.”

He sighed. His nerves were getting the best of him. “Oh, no. It was nothing.”

“I won’t press you on it.” She sighed. Placing her hand on his chest, she gave him a loving look. “But know that I’m always here if you need anything, okay?”

He looked at her and nodded. He knew that. He always did. He shouldn’t be worrying about it too much.

To clear the air, she stood up and offered a hand to help him up. “Dance with me?”

He raised a brow. “What?”

“Dance with me,” she repeated, sounding a little adamant.

“But there’s no music.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged.

“Astrid, no.”

“Come on, babe~”

Sighing, he looked confused yet amused as he held her hand and stood up. There was no way to stop her once she made up her mind. His hands moved to her waist as hers were at the back of his neck. She placed her head on his shoulder, eyes closed. They moved slowly, taking in each other’s warmth while the night’s breeze chilled them.

She wondered what went over him earlier. She didn’t want to keep asking him about it because it seemed to bother him. Still, it didn’t stop her from being curious. Her parents also seemed that way that morning. They looked like they wanted to say something but held it back. Her thoughts were interrupted once she heard Hiccup’s voice.

“M'lady?” He asked softly.

“Mm-hm?” She replied, eyes still closed. She loved the feeling of his breath on her neck.

“W… What do you think of marriage?” He sounded nervous again.

Her eyes opened. “Marriage?”

“Y-you know…” He coughed.

She pressed her lips together. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

He drew back. “What?”

Raising a brow, she replied, “Well, it’s just that I don’t think it needs to be on paper to seal the deal when it comes to love. If two people really want to be together, they don’t have to write it down.”

He was sweating again. This time, profusely.

“But I still love the idea of planning and preparing a wedding. The paper part is the only thing that I think people could go without. The rest of it I love.”

“Really?” He stopped sweating, a bright smile on his face

She nodded. “Why?”

“Gods, Astrid you scared me there for a second.”

She raised a brow.

“Ahem,” he coughed. “M'lady, Astrid Hofferson.” He took her hands and held them in his own. “I’ve been wanting to a-ask you this for a while, now. I.. I’ve already asked your parents, and I just wanted to know if you… Uh… If you..”

“If I…?”

“If you would… marry me?” He smiled, nervously.

She stood there, awed. After a few moments, she punched his arm.

“Ow! What the- Why did you do that?”

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me!” She said as she tackled him to the ground in an embrace.

He laughed. “Y-you have?”

She nodded. “I know I said I didn’t like the whole paper part of marriage, but you should know that with you, I’d go through anything.”

“Even the paper part?”

“Even the paper part.”

He hugged her back, just as tightly, and they rolled, switching their positions. Hiccup was now on top of the blonde. “I take that as a yes?”

“You bet.” They smiled at each other, both leaning in as they sealed the deal of their love, not needing a contract to do it.

They broke apart from the kiss. “I’ve already told your parents, by the way.”

“So that’s why they looked like they were hiding something.”

“I just wanted to ask you first before telling everyone else about it.”

So I decided to fiddle around with inkarnate.com, and I made an AU Durotar and an AU for it.

Time period is 10 years after WC3, the opening of Vanilla. The time period opens about 5 years later than the actual timeline because I think more time that passes allows for the Horde, Alliance, and characters to better integrate themselves into the new post-Third War status quo.

Echo Isles considerably expanded from canon. It’s actually a bunch of islands of varying sizes. The Darkspear originally landed in Spitescale Cove, driving out the naga from there and claiming it for the tribe. Eventually Darkspear Hold was establish as their small capital city, complete with all the services expected of such and direct zeppelin and flight paths to Orgrimmar and Thunder Bluff. Bloodtalon Watch is the second largest town on the Echo Isles and where the the famous Bloodtalon raptors of the Darkspear tribe are trained. Shadow’s Fall is the main landing to the isles and connected to Sen’jin Village. Naturally, the isles are covered in jungle troll ruins.

The Darkspear tribe are favored by the loa Bwonsamdi. As such, they have an altar devoted to him. Bwonsamdi favors Vol’jin and the Darkspear, finding them an interesting little troll tribe - and a tough one to kill. While Bwonsamdi offers a boon to the Darkspear, he is a tough one to please and the tribe and their Shadow Hunter leader must tread carefully in keeping his favor.

The Darkspear are typically beset by murlocs, naga, and the occasional sea giant. Most of these threats are fairly tame and good tests for new warriors.

However, on Hexisle remains considerable challenge. Several years ago, Zalazane led a revolt against Vol’jin - him and his followers felt the Darkspear were trapped within the Horde, no longer free trolls. Since then, Zalazane has been a constant thorn in the Darkspear’s side, never quite able to route him out due to building up this new home for the tribe and dealing with those other threats in the Echo Isles. From Hexisle, Zalazane takes his voodoo and necromancy to dark extremes - powerful hexes ensnare Darkspear sent to fight him, grant boons to his followers, and raise the dead to his service. The very land has become twisted and broken. But with matters settled, Vol’jin is making the final push against his former friend with the aid of the Darkspear’s favored loa, who finds the disgracing of troll dead distasteful.

Originally, the orcs first landed in what became Bladefist Bay, eventually establishing a small harbor here for trade, fishing, and a navy. From here, the orcs spread west to establish the spikey city of Orgrimmar and south to establish smaller outposts.

Situated within an extremely well protected Valley of Trials are several small villages comprising of orcs across from various clans. The primary clans consist of Frostwolf, Warsong, Shattered Hand, and Blackrock. However, smaller remnants of other clans are rebuilding,as well, including Burning Blade, Twilight’s Hammer, Dragonmaw, and Bleeding Hollow. It is within the Valley of Trials that the orcs are building anew and where new warriors come to begin their training.

However, all’s not well. In the Valley of Trials, in the cave system underneath it, some minor warlocks have been sent by the Shadow Council to instill chaos and distrust in the various orc clans. However, when all seems about to erupt into chaos, Warchief Thrall shows up with his Kor’kron Elite. While his skill as diplomat work for most, not all orcs are convinced - until the might of Doomhammer and a burst of lightning remind them he has both the mind and the strength to keep the Horde united.

Behind their Warchief again and petty clan squabbling done for the day, new orc heroes move onto Razor Hill. Establish as both a town and training ground, heroes pit themselves against various orcish threats. One new one is that the dead of the now defunct Tiragarde Keep have suddenly risen up as restless souls. Adventurers would find that some appropriately evilly-named talisman being by an appropriately evilly-named Dark Horde warlock and his bodyguard. Originally gifted to warlocks under Warchief Blackhand’s command, the talisman was previously within the firm hand of Warchief of the Dark Horde, Rend Blackhand.

Draka’gol is the “heart” of Durotar. Once Orgrimmar’s construction was well near finishing, Warchief Thrall brought together shaman, druid, and witch doctor with the singular goal of finding or creating a water reservoir within the desert. Together, using their various magics, such a reservoir was found and upon it was built a breadbasket for Durotar and the Echo Isles. With goblin engineering from Gazlowe’s engineer to create proper irrigation, Draka’gol’s farmlands provide the Horde with all the food it needs.

The Southfury Garrison is a large outpost, responsible for controlling the main access into and out of Durotar and into the Barrens. Most of the time, they deal with quillboar and adventurers past last through here before setting out to the Barrens.

The quillboar have been a consistent problem for the orcs in Durotar ever since landing. Indeed, they seemingly cannot be purged from the Razormane Stronghold in central Durotar. This is due, in part, to Durotar’s vast cave systems, one of which connects the Razormane Stronghold to the main quillboar grounds in the Barrens. However, while their numbers are a problem, the biggest issue is that the Horde arriving in Durotar has brought about unintended consequences - the quillboar are adapting and modernizing using recovered Horde material. This has made them bold, prompting them to raid farms and test both Razor Hill and Draka’gol’s defenses. Now the Horde’s adventurers, with support of the Horde military, must act quickly and decisively for the Horde’s best interests in taking out the Razormane Stronghold for good.

If you dig it, let me know. I may make more maps and AU fanon stuff for fun.